Anchor handling apparatus



Oct. 18, 1966 A. D. HOWARD 3,279,412

ANCHOR HANDLING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 23, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. I

INVENTOR. ADELBERT D. HOWARD Maw HIS ATTORNEYS.

'Oct. 18, 1966 A. D. HOWARD ANCHOR HANDLING APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 25, 1964 INVENTORQ ADELBERT D. HOWARD k MW HIS ATTORNEYS.

Oct. 18, 1966 A. D. HOWARD 3,

ANCHOR HANDLING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 23, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 FIG. 4

INVENTOR. ADELBERT D. HOWARD HIS ATTORNEYS.

Oct. .18, 1966 A. D. HOWARD ANCHOR HANDLING APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Sept. 23, 1964 INVENTOR. ADELBERT D. HOWARD F HIS ATTORNEYS.

Oct. 18, 1966 A. D. HOWARD 3,279,412

ANCHOR HANDLING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 23, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 78 MOTOR 44 INVENTOR. ADELBERT D. HOWARD HIS ATTORNEYS.

United States Patent 3,279,412 ANCHOR HANDLING APPARATUS Adelbert D. Howard, 572 Humboldt St., Rochester, N.Y. Filed Sept. 23, 1964, Ser. No. 398,714 17 Claims. (Cl. 114-210) This invention relates to an improved anchor handling apparatus, and more particularly to an automatic or semiautomatic device for weighing and raising or retracting an anchor at the prow of a boat and swinging the retracted anchor and anchor handling apparatus from a prow-overhanging position to a position inboard of the boat.

Previous anchor handling means have not been automatic or semiautomatic, and have left bulky, unsightly, awkward, and dangerous anchors and apparatus disposed at the prow of the boat where they interfere with docking or landing of the boat, hauling the boat from the water onto -a trailer or other device, and general maneuvering of the boat. Such previous anchor handling devices have also been expensive to manufacture and install, and diflicult to maintain and operate.

An object of the invention is to overcome the shortcomings of previous anchor handling devices, and to lower and raise an anchor by a simple automatic means, and to stow a raised anchor in a, safe, inboard position away from the prow of the boat.

Another object of the invention is to make a simple and economical anchor handling device that is easy to install and maintain, and effective and foolproof in operation.

Another object of the invention is to provide convenient pulley means on the prow of a boat to cooperate with a powered anchor winch in an automatic anchor handling apparatus so that the boat can be hauled from the water by using the anchor line and winch.

Another object of the invention is to make a convenient, economical, and functional anchor that cooperates with an automatic anchor handling apparatus so as to be more readily retracted and stowed, partly because of improved compactness.

To these and other ends, the invention resides in certain improvements and combinations, all as will be hereinafter more fully described, the novel features being pointed out in the claims at the end of this specification.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 shows a plan view of an anchor handling apparatus as arranged on the prow of a boat;

FIG. 2 shows a side elevation of the apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 shows an enlarged and more detailed plan view of anchor handling apparatus according to the invention;

FIG. 4 shows a cross section view of FIG. 3 along the line 4-4 showing the anchor in a lowered position;

FIG. 5 shows the cross section view of FIG. 4 with the anchor in the raised or retracted position;

FIG. 6 shows a cross section view of FIG. 4 taken along the line 6-6;

FIG. 7 shows a cross sectional top view illustrating the relation of the pivotal turntable to the supporting plate for apparatus according to the invention; and

FIG. 8 shows a schematic circuit diagram for a control system according to the invention.

Generally, from the drawings (in which corresponding parts have been given the same reference numerals) and especially from FIGS. 1 and 2, it can be seen that the in- 3,279,412 Patented Oct. 18, 1966 "ice ventive apparatus includes an anchor 20, an anchor handling arm 21, an anchor line 22, and a winch 23. These components are arranged near a prow 24 of a boat 25. It is preferred that anchor arm 21, in its forward position, overhang the prow 24 of boat 25; but winch 23 can easily be located in some other convenient place in a boat, for example, under forward deck of boat 25, and winch 23 is shown as mounted on top of forward deck 26 of boat 25 near anchor arm 21 merely for convenience of illustration.

As shown in broken lines in FIG. 1, retracted anchor 20 and arm 21 can be pivoted from the forward prowoverhanging position to an angularly deflected position away from the prow 24 and inboard of boat 25. The pivoting of anchor 20 and arm 21 away from the prow 24 of boat 25 can be through any convenient arc including degrees, and such pivoting can be either to the port or starboard of boat 25.

As shown by broken lines in FIG. 2, anchor arm 21 has a lowered and a raised position, and is preferably lowered as anchor 20 is lowered, and raised as anchor 20 is fully retracted. The raising of arm 21 as anchor 20 is retracted facilitates the rotation of arm 21 to an anchor stowing position removed from the prow 24 of boat 25.

Anchor handling apparatus according to the invention, as arranged on the prow of a boat, provides a convenient place for mounting a running or navigational light 27 schematically illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2. Running light 27 is mounted so as to remain forward-facing as anchor arm 21 is rotated.

Winch 23 is preferably provided with a level Wind device 28 and is preferably powered by an electric motor through a reduction gear drive so that the motor and the gear drive can hold anchor line 22 to retain anchor 20 in its retracted position and to hold the boat 25 in its anchored position. Of course, brakes or other alternative structures can be substituted for such a reduction gear drive, and winch 23 can even be hand operated within the spirit of the invention.

The cross section views of FIGS. 4 and 5 best illustrate the raising and lowering of anchor 20. FIG. 4 illustrates the lowered position of arm 21, and anchor 20 is shown resting on the bottom.

Anchor 20 has a weighted bottom portion 29 preferably'of cast lead or other metal, and the anchor line 22 is secured directly to bottom portion 29. A plurality of projections 30 extend outward and slightly upward from the base portion 29 of anchor 20 and afford prongs or tangs by which the anchor 20 digs into the bottom as it is tilted over on its side and dragged by the boat 25. Prongs 30 are bent slightly downward at their outer ends to dig into the bottom more readily as anchor 20 is tilted, and prongs 30 provide a good digging engagement of the anchor 20 into the bottom to resist the pulling force of boat 25.

Anchor 20 preferably has a resilient, hollow, telescoping shaft or shank 31 through which anchor line 22 is reeved. Hollow telescoping shank 31 is relatively rigid laterally, but can be resiliently compressed as anchor 20 is drawn against anchor arm 21 so as to engage arm 21 and be held closely and compactly below arm 21.

It is preferred that a downwardly oriented socket or cavity 81 be formed in the outer end of anchor arm 21 for receiving compressible telescopic shank 31 of anchor 20. Cavity 81 thus retains anchor 20 firmly in place relative to anchor arm 21 without any swinging or banging which might damage boat 25. In cooperation with compressible telescopic shank 31, cavity 81 need not be as deep and as space-consuming as such a cavity adapted to receive other types of anchors. Thus, cavity 81 and shank 31 cooperate to provide compact and secure stowage for anchor 20 so that anchor 20 can be swung inboard of boat 25 easily and conveniently.

Compressible telescopic shank 31 for anchor 20 is superior to a shortened shank for anchor 20 because it provides greater leverage by which anchor 20 can be uprighted and forced loose from the bottom after having been tilted on its side and having its prongs 30 dig into the bottom.

Arm 21 is pivotally mounted on trunnions 32 that are supported on turntable 33. Springs 34 that are located behind trunnions 32 urge the rear of anchor arm 21 upward and bias its forward or outer end downward. Springs 34 can be omitted and the weight of anchor 20 and anchor arm 21 can be relied upon to hold the outer end of anchor arm 21 in itslower position. However, it is preferred that springs 34 bias the forward end of anchor arm 21 downward to prevent raising of anchor arm 21 by winch 23 from any binding or sticking of anchor line 22 in pulley 42 or some other portion of the outer end of anchor arm 21 before anchor 20 is raised. Also, springs 34 provide a bias working against the tension in anchor line 22 when anchor arm 21 is in the raised position so as to counteract any looseness or rattling of anchor arm 21 in the raised position.

Clips or brackets 35 on top of anchor arm 21 are for holding an alternative type of anchor that must be manually placed in brackets 35.

It is preferred that the electrically driven winch 23 be controlled in its paying out of anchor line 22 as anchor 20 is lowered and its winding in of anchor line 22 as anchor 20 is raised. In furtherance of such control (which is more fully described below) a microswitch 36 is provided with a resilient arm 37 having on its outer end a roller 38 that is biased toward engagement with anchor line 22. By means of arm 37 and roller 38, microswitch 36 is made responsive to slack in anchor line 22. While anchor arm 21 is raised, and anchor 20 is retracted, there is no slack in anchor line 22, and as anchor line 22 is payed out by winch 23 while lowering anchor 20, slack does not occur in anchor line 22 until anchor 20 touches bottom. As soon as this happens, anchor line 22 becomes slack where engaged by roller 38. Arm 37 is adjusted to open microswitch 36 and stop winch 23 upon such detection of slack. The controls for winch 23 are preferably arranged for paying out slack line from winch 23 or arranging for the spool of winch 23 to become free to let slack run out to give the necessary slack for anchor 20 to hold boat 25.

In winding in anchor line 22 to raise anchor 20 into engagement with arm 21 and to raise arm 21 to its raised position, winch 23 is stopped at the appropriate point by microswitch 39 that has a movable arm 40 positioned under the rear of anchor arm 21 so as to be activated when anchor arm 21 is raised. Thus, raising of anchor arm 21 by tension on anchor line 22 after anchor 20 has been drawn into engagement with arm 21 operates to move the arm 40 of microswitch 39 and open the power circuit for winch 23 so that winding of anchor line 22 is stopped. Anchor arm 21 is held in the raised position illustrated in FIG. by tension on anchor line 22 supplied by winch 23 and its reduction gear train connection to its drive motor.

Anchor line 22 is reeved over pulleys 41 and 42 so as to travel over the outer end of arm 21. Other pulley means are also suitable for guiding anchor line 22 through the desired path.

As best shown in FIG. 3, anchor arm 21 is pivotable from its forward position overhanging the prow 24 of the boat to bring arm 21 and anchor 20 to an inboard position removed from prow 24. To accomplish this, the trunnion mounting of arm 21 is arranged on a turntable 33. As mentioned above, arm 21 can be conveniently rotated either to the starboard or port side of the boat and can be rotated through any convenient are including degrees. To facilitate such rotation, pulley 41 is mounted at the center of rotation of turntable 33 and is provided along its sides with guide rollers 43 around which anchor line 22 can be bent.

Rotation of arm 21 and turntable 33 on which it is mounted can be accomplished manually and can also be done by a power drive. In the illustrated embodiment, and as best shown in FIGS. 4-7, turntable 33 is rotated by an electric motor 44 that drives gear 45 that in turn engages gear 46 attached to a spindle 47. Spindle 47 is keyed by key 48 to turntable 33. Bracket 49, fastened to spindle 47, is arranged for supporting roller 41 over which anchor line 22 is entrained so that roller 41 and guide rollers 43 rotate with turntable 33 as arm 21 is pivoted.

Motor 44 is preferably controlled by limit switches so that arm 21 is rotated accurately to its forward position and accurately to a predetermined stowed position. Physical stop means are also preferred for cooperating with limit switches to control the position of arm 21. The back edge of turntable 33 can easily function as one abutment means for such a physical stop, and a slot 50 is preferably formed in support plate 51 on which turntable 33 pivots. Slot S0 is engaged by downward projecting side portions 52 of arm 21 to hold arm 21 securely in its forward, prow-overhanging position. The forward edge 53 of turntable 33 is preferably rabbeted so as to underlie the undercut edge 54 of base plate 51 for further stability of turntable 33.

As shown in broken lines in FIG. 4, anchor line 22 can be reeved over auxiliary pulleys 55-57 by passing through an opening 58 formed in anchor arm 21 so as to allow the boat 25 to be hauled from the water and onto a boat trailer or other device under the power of winch 23. Anchor line 22 is fastened to such boat trailer or other device, and winch 23 is driven to wind anchor line 22 so as to draw boat 25 toward the point of fastening of anchor line 22. The inventive anchor handling apparatus thus performs a beneficial extra function in moving the boat 25 under the power of winch 23, and this is safer and more convenient than moving boat 25 onto a trailer by hand or other means.

FIG. 8 shows a control circuit for winch motor 59, and turntable motor 44 so as to raise, lower, and stow an anchor according to the invention by operation of a simple and foolproof control. Switch control arm 60 which selects and governs the operation of the inventive anchor handling apparatus is preferably conveniently located in the cockpit or control station of boat 25. Control arm 60 is illustrated in its oif position in which all circuits are open, and it has three other positions for wind, drop anchor, and free spool. Battery 61 supplies the power for motors 44 and 59 for driving turntable 33 and winch 23 respectively.

To raise or wind in an anchor resting on the bottom, control arm 60 is moved to its wind position in which contacts 62-63 and 6465 are closed. With the anchor resting on the bottom, the anchor arm is in its lowered position, and switch 39 connects contacts 67-68. This puts winch motor 59 across battery 61 through contacts 62-63, 67-68, normally closed switch 71, and contacts 6465 for driving winch 23 so as to wind in anchor line. When enough line has been Wound in to bring the anchor into engagement with anchor arm 21 and to raise anchor arm 21, switch 39 is activated to open the connection be tween contacts 67-68 and to make a circuit between contacts 67-69. This puts turntable motor 44 across battery 61 for rotating the turntable and arm 21 away from the prow of the boat. Such a circuit is completed through contacts 62-63, contacts 67-69, normally closed switch 71, and contacts 64-65. When arm 21 has rotated to a pre determined limit position, switch 71 is opened for opening the circuit to stop the rotation of arm 21. At this point, the circuits to both motors 44 and 59 are opened and the anchor is automatically retracted and stowed. Control arm 60 can be moved to the OE position and the status quo will be maintained.

To drop or lower the anchor, control arm 60 is moved to the drop anchor position in which it closes contacts 72-73, and 74-75. This completes a circuit through contacts 72-73, normally closed switch 36, contacts 77-70, and 74-75 to place turntable motor 44 across battery 61 in a polarity opposite to that previously described for rotating arm 21 back toward the forward prow-overhanging position. When the anchor arm reaches its forward position, switch 76 is moved from its illustrated position to complete a circuit across contacts 77-78. This not only opens the circuit to turntable motor 44 and stops the forward rotation of the anchor ann but also closes a circuit to winch motor 59 of the proper polarity for driving winch motor 59 to pay out anchor line from winch 23 so as to lower the anchor arm and the anchor. Lowering of the anchor continues until normally closed switch 36 is opened in response to slack in the anchor line produced by the anchor touching bottom.

To pay out necessary slack anchor line, the control arm 60 is moved to its free spool position wherein contacts 79-81 are closed for completing a circuit to solenoid 80 which disengages a gear in the reduction gear train between motor 59 and winch 23 so as to free the spool of winch 23 to pay out slack on demand from the tension of the anchor line. When suflicient slack is payed out, control lever 60 is returned to the off position by passing through the drop anchor position. No circuits are closed by the passage through the drop anchor position, and the circuit is opened to solenoid 80 so that the gear train is re-connected between motor 59 and winch 23. It is preferred that by such connection winch 23 holds anchor line securely so that anchor 20 can keep the boat in place and the status quo can be maintained.

Of course, both turntable motor 44 and winch motor 59 can be driven in two directions depending upon the polarity of their connection with battery 61. Also, it should be noted that hand or other power operations can be substituted for turntable motor 44 or winch motor 59.

It will thus be seen that the invention accomplishes its stated objects, and while the invention has been disclosed herein by reference to the details of the preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that such disclosure is intended in an illustrative, rather than a limiting, sense, and it is contemplated that various modifications of the construction and arrangement of the parts will readily occur to those skilled in the art, within the spirit of the invention in the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In an anchor handling device arranged on a boat and including an anchor, anchor line, and an anchor winch, the improvement comprising: an arm, the outer end of which is adapted to overhang the prow of said boat and to receive said anchor, said arm being mounted at its inner end for vertical pivotal movement between a raised and a lowered position; and means actuated in response to said anchor being raised into engagement with said arm and said arm being in said raised position for pivoting said arm in a generally horizontal plane to move said arm between said prow-overhanging position and an angularly disposed position wherein said arm and said raised anchor are substantially inboard of said boat and clear of said prow.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein said means comprise a switch closed by said arm in said raised position, and electrically driven pivoting means operable only when said switch is closed.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein said anchor has a resilient telescoping shank that is compressed when said anchor is raised into engagement with said arm.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein said winch is electrically driven and is arranged for paying out said anchor line, and means are arranged for sensing slack in said anchor line to stop the paying out of said anchor line in response to said slack.

5. An anchor adapted to cooperate with an automatic anchor retracting device, said anchor having a weighted bottom and a hollow telescoping shank that is relatively rigid laterally and resiliently compressible axially, and the anchor line for said anchor being reeved through said shank and connected to said weighted bottom so that said anchor can be drawn by said anchor line into engagement with a portion of said retracting means whereby said resilient telescoping shank is axially compressed.

6. The device of claim 1 wherein said anchor comprises the anchor of claim 5.

7. In an automatic anchor handling device arranged on a boat and including an anchor, anchor line, and anchor winch, the improvement comprising: a supporting plate secured to said boat near the prow thereof; a turntable pivotally mounted on said supporting plate; an arm mounted at its inner end on said turntable, said arm being pivotal vertically between a raised and a lowered position and being arranged so that the outer end of said arm overhangs said prow; pulley means on said turntable and said arm for reeving said anchor line from said winch to the outer end of said arm; means for weighing said anchor and drawing said anchor into engagement with said outer end of said arm; means for raising said arm from said lowered to said raised position; and means actuated by said arm when in said raised position for rotating said turntable to bring said arm and said anchor inboard of said boat and clear of said prow.

8. The device of claim 7 wherein said anchor comprises the anchor of claim 5.

9. The device of claim 7 wherein said winch is electrically driven and is arranged for paying out said anchor line, and means are arranged for sensing slack in said anchor line to stop the paying out of said anchor line in response to said slack produced when said anchor touches bottom.

10. The device of claim 9 wherein said anchor winch applies the force for weighing said anchor, drawing said anchor into engagement with said arm, and raising said arm, and a switch is arranged for stopping said winch when said arm reaches said raised position.

11. In an automatic anchor handling device arranged on a boat and including an anchor, anchor line, and an electrically powered anchor winch, the improvement comprising: a supporting plate secured to said boat near the prow thereof; a turntable pivotally mounted on said supporting plate; an arm mounted at its inner end on said turntable, said arm being pivotal vertically between a raised and a lowered position and being arranged to that the outer end of said arm overhangs said prow; pulley means for guiding said anchor line from said winch to the outer end of said arm; control means for said winch arranged for allowing said winch to pay out said anchor line as said anchor is lowered and to weigh said anchor and draw said anchor into engagement with said outer end of said arm and to raise said arm from said lowered to said raised position; and means automatically actuated by said arm upon arriving at said raised position for rotating said turntable to bring said arm and said anchor inboard of said boat and clear of said prow.

12. The device of claim 11 wherein means are arranged for stopping said paying out of said anchor line by said winch in response of the sensing of slack in said anchor line produced when said anchor touches bottom.

13. The device of claim 11 wherein said anchor has a hollow telescoping shank that is relatively rigid laterally and resiliently compressible axially, and said anchor line is reeved through said shank and connected to said weighted bottom so that as said anchor is drawn into engagement with said arm, said resilient telescoping shank in axially compressed.

14. The device of claim 11 wherein a switch is arranged for stopping said Winch from drawing in said anchor line when said arm reaches said raised position.

15. The device of claim 11 wherein said means for rotating said turntable comprise electric drive means and a switch on an electrical power circuit of said drive means, which is closed only when said arm is in said raised posi tion, and a switch arranged for stopping said turntable drive means at a limit of rotation for said turntable.

16. The device of claim 11 wherein pulley means are arranged on said prow through which said anchor line can be reeved for hauling said boat by means of said winch.

17. The device of claim 11 wherein said arm positively References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,675,930 7/1928 Gabrielson et al 1l42l0 1,848,972 3/1932 Peebles. 1,912,366 6/1933 Hausenfiuck r- 114-210 2,355,235 8/ 1944 Nickles 212--3 2,564,801 8/1951 Cook 114210 X MILTON BUCHLER, Primary Examiner.

T. M. BLIX, Assistant Examiner. 

1. IN AN ANCHOR HANDLING DEVICE ARRANGED ON A BOAT AND INCLUDING AN ANCHOR, ANCHOR LINE, AND AN ANCHOR WINCH, THE IMPROVEMENT COMPRISING: AN ARM, THE OUTER END OF WHICH IS ADAPTED TO OVERHANG THE PROW OF SAID BOAT AND TO RECEIVE SAID ANCHOR, SAID ARM BEING MOUNTED AT ITS INNER END FOR VERTICAL PIVOTAL MOVEMENT BETWEEN A RAISED AND LOWERED POSITION; AND MEANS ACTUATED IN RESPONSE TO SAID ANCHOR BEING RAISED INTO ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID ARM AND SAID ARM BEING IN SAID RAISED POSITION FOR PIVOTING 